Irregular verb
The verb to bend
bend → bent → bent
B2Meaning: to make something curved; to move your body forward or down · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they bend·he/she/it bends - Past Simple:
bent(the -d becomes -t) - Past participle:
bent(the same as the Past Simple) - -ing form:
bending
Conjugation of the verb to bend
Present Simple
| I | bend |
| You | bend |
| He / She / It | bends |
| We | bend |
| You (pl.) | bend |
| They | bend |
Past Simple
| I | bent |
| You | bent |
| He / She / It | bent |
| We | bent |
| You (pl.) | bent |
| They | bent |
All the forms of the verb to bend
Present Simple
Full pagebend / bends
“Trees bend in the wind.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are bending
“I am bending the wire right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagebent
“She bent down to pick up her keys.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were bending
“I was bending the wire when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has bent
“I have already bent the wire.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad bent
“She had already bent the wire when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill bend
“I will bend the wire tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to bend
“I'm going to bend the wire this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould bend
“I would bend the wire if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to bend
1. Bending an object
- He bent the wire.
- Don't bend the card.
2. Bending down
Bend down or bend over means to move your body lower or forward.
- She bent down to tie her shoes.
3. Bending the rules
Bend the rules means to change the rules a little, for one person or one situation.
- They bent the rules for him.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Bended ❌
Bend → bent works like send → sent, spend → spent and lend → lent. There is no -ed.
2. Bend is also a noun
A bend is a curve in a road or a river: There is a sharp bend in the road. Round the bend means around the curve. Informally, it can also mean crazy.
What's next?
You can conjugate to bend. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of bend?+
The Past Simple of bend is bent (the -d becomes -t). The past participle is the same: bent. Bend → bent → bent. Other verbs in -end work in the same way: send → sent, spend → spent.
What does bend over backwards mean?+
Bend over backwards is an idiom: it means to try very hard to help someone. She bent over backwards to help me.
What is the difference between bend and fold?+
Bend means to make something curved without breaking it: a metal wire, your back. Fold means to put one part of paper or cloth over another part, usually with a clear line. I bent the wire. I folded the paper.
What does bend the rules mean?+
Bend the rules means to change the rules a little, without really breaking them. It is different from break the rules (to not follow them at all). My teacher bent the rules for me means my teacher made an exception for me.
Is it bent or bended?+
Bend is irregular: its Past Simple is bent. There is only one exception: the old expression on bended knee (kneeling on one knee). Everywhere else, use bent.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/bend
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.